“On three,” Leander said.
Two of the guards popped up and began firing on the count of two, giving Leander a moment to rise above the SUV and toss the flash-bang into the trees.
A concussive blast shook the night.
Men screamed.
A thick haze of smoke obliterated the entire tree line, seeping up into the boughs and across the ground toward the trucks. Even from a distance the noise was deafening and disorienting.
Sander opened the passenger door and allowed one of the guards to climb in ahead to take the driver’s seat. It was a more vulnerable position despite the fact that the SUVs were bulletproof. Jeremiah, Mattias, and the other guards broke for the second car.
A stray bullet or two ripped through the darkness.
Sander hopped into the passenger’s seat once the guard was situated and slammed the door closed. His ears were ringing. Leander took the back seat, muttering the whole time about hearing loss and his pay scale.
The guard yanked the SUV into reverse, wrenched a look over his shoulder for guidance, and backed quickly away from the clearing. He accelerated to a dangerous speed that would have resulted in a nasty wreck if he’d lost control of the wheel.
Sander heard the crack of gunfire echo through the trees. No bullets hit the SUV, proving the shooters were disoriented and blinded by the smoke.
Once they’d navigated the trees and came out in the clearing, the driver whipped the SUV around and headed to the spot where a helicopter already waited. The truck that carried Mattias and the others raced toward the rendezvous point.
“I texted ahead for the helicopter to be ready to fly when we got here,” Leander said by way of explanation. “Didn’t want to try and board while under fire.”
“Good thinking,” Sander said. “Anyone get a look at the shooters?”
“I didn’t,” Leander replied. “They were tucked too far into the shadows beneath the trees.”
“Me either. Saw exactly nothing,” the driver said.
“Either they knew we were coming, or they’d come back to the scene of the crime in hopes of catching workers here still clearing out bodies.” Sander couldn’t tell which. “One thing’s for sure: They didn’t come across the border. They were already here.”
Sander paced the impressive library at Rehn Castle while Mattias, Leander, and Jeremiah took up flanking positions around the room. The library was a testament to both new and old literature; tomes of all kinds filled floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, some so old that the lettering on the spines had almost faded to nothing. Whenever Sander passed the shelves with the oldest books, the scent of weathered paper and hardened leather assaulted his senses. It was as if he could smell the stale air of centuries past.
Rather than return immediately to Latvala, Sander had decided to pay a visit to the sitting king, Aleksi Rehn. The attack in the woods demanded an in-person meeting rather than a rushed phone call despite the lateness of the hour.
Aleksi stood near the fireplace, a troubled look on his brow. He was a man of slightly above average height, with chiseled features and golden skin that indicated he spent a good amount of time outside. He’d cut his streaked brown hair closer to the nape than the shoulders, with a forelock that tended to hang down across his temple. He wore his age well; few wrinkles lined his face and no gray had yet to invade his hairline.
“I’ve sent a full brigade to the point of attack, although I have a feeling that whoever shot at you won’t be there when the troops arrive,” Aleksi said.
“I have to agree,” Sander replied. “And it’s galling that we are no closer to an answer than we were before either prior attack. The men remained sheltered behind the trees, blocking us from seeing any kind of uniform or other attire.”
“Likewise, no one shouted anything so we can’t pinpoint by language either,” Leander added.
“I’m going to station troops all along the border, even in the most inhospitable of places. The bigger question is retaliation or confrontation. Do I have my liaison contact Russia’s ambassador and inquire? I can’t launch an all-out attack on Russia, not yet. There just isn’t enough proof,” Aleksi said.
“Again, I agree. There needs to be indisputable proof. A few citizens’ testimony isn’t enough. Because once you launch an attack like you’re talking about, you can’t take it back.” Sander paced across the library, agitated and annoyed. He was unhappy that their mission had failed to produce a definable enemy.
“If the men who shot at us were Russians then they’re occupying Imatran land near the border somewhere, because none of us found any sign of troop movement in the neutral zone and beyond, onto Russian territory. If they crossed over, they did so at some other point, which still means they’re skulking around on Imatran soil,” Mattias said.
“They were waiting for something. Another team to come clear out the tents, maybe,” Leander added. “Either way, we know that they’re not afraid to shoot at anyone and everyone. It’ll be interesting to see what your troops find—or don’t find.”
“I can tell you this, Aleksi: If Imatra comes under full attack, I won’t hesitate to send a division over to help you,” Sander said. It was a big step, committing his military to engage in warfare on Imatra’s behalf. Once his men were involved, he would not easily be able to pull them out until the conflict ended. Yet he refused to leave Imatra exposed and short of troops against a much bigger enemy.
If Latvala came under the same kind of attack, he knew Aleksi would return the favor. The smaller Baltic states had to stick together if they wanted to retain their statehood and freedom.
“I appreciate it, Sander. We should know more by daybreak,” Aleksi said.
Across the room, someone’s phone rang.
Sander pinned a look on Leander. He must have turned his phone back on at some point between extraction from the clearing and arrival at the castle.
“Yes?” Leander said in an impatient voice. His posture stiffened and he frowned, drawing more of Sander’s attention. “What? We’re on our way.” Leander ended the call, mouth pulled into a grim line. He did not waste time getting to the point. “In the last two hours, a village in Somero was attacked and Latvala is currently under attack as we speak. We need to return to Kallaster immediately.”
Sander experienced several emotions at once, with fury in the forefront. As he crossed the room to the door, he said, “Aleksi, we’ll call you when we know more. If I were you, I’d double up on the troops you plan to send to the farthest villages and hamlets. It looks like you’re going to need it.” Sander didn’t wait for a reply. He stalked out of the library and broke into a run.
The faster they reached the jet, the faster they could get in the air.
There wasn’t a second to waste.
Chapter 7
It felt as natural as breathing to take control of the escalating situation. Elias dialed the military liaison and, while the phone rang, informed his mother, sisters, and brother of the news. “We’re under attack. I don’t have any other details yet.”
“Attack where?” Erick said, eyes narrowed.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Eliana said. “Who told you?”
Elias held up a finger to stay any further questions. The military liaison picked up at the end of the second ring.
“Kirkley here.”
“Commander Kirkley, Prince Elias. I want as many details as you can give me.” Elias registered his mother’s shock as he listened for Kirkley’s reply. He put the phone on speaker so everyone could hear at once.
“Word is still coming in. The villages of Garry and Noll are both under attack. One of the residents got a call out before the line went dead. We have troops en route.”
“How many?” Elias asked.
“Five hundred men, Prince Elias.”
“Make it two thousand. I want Garry and Noll covered as well as the nearest villages within a ten mile radius.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Kirkley—I want y
ou to report only to me. Bypass the councilmen and the advisors for now. I’ll tell them what I want them to know.” He thought it prudent to cherry-pick details until he had more information about the attack and who might be behind it.
“Yes, Your Highness. As soon as we have some kind of identification on the attackers, I’ll be in contact.”
Elias ended the call. “Those bastards struck before we could get word to the public. Mom, will you and Eliana fortify the castle? Block the gates and put lookouts in the towers. After that, see what you can find out about the councilmen and advisors. Stick to the plan while Emily, Erick, and I turn Pop’s private office into a temporary war room. He’s got all the big maps and previous troop deployment information already there.”
“We’ll do that, Elias. Someone needs to try and get word to your father, if possible. I know he and the others were on blackout status while in Imatra, but we need him back here sooner rather than later. At the very least, he needs to know we’re under attack so he can take extra precautions coming home,” Chey said.
“Kirkley might have already attempted to contact them. Just in case, Eliana, try Dad’s phone. If his is unavailable, try everyone else’s and keep trying until you get someone. I’d rather the news come from us rather than anyone else.” Elias swept out of the room with Emily and Erick in tow. Moments later, he entered his father’s private office and began situating the desk to better face the wall where a contingent of maps hung for just this purpose. Each map represented different sections of the country, and one was dedicated to Pallan Island itself.
“We could have used the other room if you wanted to, Elias,” Emily said as she rearranged chairs.
“No, that’s all right. We would have had to move all these maps and I think it’s just easier to stage it here. I’d like the other room preserved for now. No one but us needs to know what we’re doing there. I don’t want anyone in here either. If we have meetings, we can do it in Dad’s downstairs office or in one of the conference rooms.” Elias walked to one of the maps after locating a few pushpins and marked the villages of Garry and Noll.
“I’ll make sure any meetings are scheduled for the conference room,” Emily said.
“Thanks, Em. Erick, can you figure out how far those villages are from our border?” Elias asked.
“Give me ten minutes,” Erick said.
“Are you going to notify Somero that we’re also under attack?” Emily asked as she pushed a last chair into position facing the map wall.
“Actually, will you contact Inari for me? We should return the favor since she called me earlier to tell me Somero had been attacked. It’s possible they’ll suffer another before the night is through and although I’m sure they’re already on high alert, I think they should know that whoever is attacking our countries is still at it.” Elias cleared a few items from Sander’s desk, taking care to place folders and laptops neatly on a separate side table. He unrolled a fresh map of Pallan Island and used weights to hold down the edges.
“Sure.” Emily dug out a phone from the pocket of her pants and turned away to make the call.
He would have preferred to call Inari himself, but his time was better spent planning for a possible escalation. After a quick check of the Pallan map, he made several calls, the first to Kirkley to have troops sent to the docks of the island and more to the family seat on the mainland. The second call was to advisor Torsten, a man his father had trusted for years and someone Elias put a measure of trust in now. He explained the details and called for an emergency meeting within the hour. The final call was to Caspian Rehn, Aleksi’s son and heir to the throne of Imatra. Caspian was one of Elias’s best friends besides Jeremiah and he thought it prudent to connect with Caspian and get on the same page strategy-wise. Once done, he slid his phone away and prepared to meet with the advisors.
“Elias.”
He glanced at Erick on the way to the door.
“Garry is forty-eight miles from the border. Noll is fifty. So whoever attacked the villages has penetrated pretty far already into Latvalan territory. We’re not talking a half mile breach but, as far as I’m concerned, a full invasion of our land.”
Elias spent the first ten minutes of his meeting with the advisors bringing everyone up to speed. He did not hold back any information other than the internal investigation being coordinated by his mother on an upper floor of the castle. While he spoke, he paid close attention to the men’s reactions and expressions, on the alert for anything suspicious. With as much tension as the news brought, he found it difficult to pinpoint nefarious behavior.
“I disagree that you should have sent so many troops so early, Prince Elias,” one advisor said with a disapproving frown.
“What would you have me do, Risto? Wait until the enemy is knocking at Kallaster’s gate?” Elias checked his temper. He needed to remain levelheaded in lieu of ripping into the advisor for perceived slights. Succumbing to anger would only give the advisors more ammunition to use against him. Upon return, Sander would judge his performance and Elias did not want to come up lacking.
“Of course not,” Risto said. He straightened his eighty-year-old body to full height, as if to suggest affront. Watery blue eyes followed Elias through the conference room.
“Your lack of concern for your fellow Latvalan is troubling. People could be dying, Risto.” So much for holding his tongue. Elias credited himself for continuing to speak in a civil tone, at the very least.
“And you could have sent thousands of military men to their deaths! What if this is an invasion and we don’t know it yet?” Risto asked. He stomped the end of his cane against the floor for emphasis.
“Better to have a line of defense farther from the bigger cities and save as many people as we can. Again, you speak as if you’d rather allow the enemy halfway into Latvalan territory before making a move to stop the advance,” Elias said.
“His Majesty would not have made such a grievous mistake. Mark my words,” Risto said.
Elias had witnessed enough meetings between his father and the advisors to understand that Risto was trying to make him doubt his own decisions and second-guess himself. That strategy only worked if he thought he’d miscalculated the number of troops on their way to Garry and Noll, and Elias did not think he’d miscalculated at all. “I disagree, and you’ll be explaining yourself to the king upon his return.”
Three other advisors suddenly spoke up in favor of Elias’s decision. The majority, thus far, had sided with him. The councilmen, who would be filled in later by the advisors, were another matter entirely. Elias arched a brow at Risto as if to say my decision stands.
There would be no pulling back of the troops.
“Speaking of His Majesty, when will he be returning from his trip to Imatra? We need him here,” Risto said. Several other advisors voiced their agreement.
Before he could address Risto’s question, his phone vibrated. Elias turned away from the congregation to read the message in private.
It was from Eliana.
Father’s group came under fire in Imatra. They are fine and heading back to Latvala.
“It appears that there has been another attack on Imatran soil,” Elias said as he faced the advisors again. He declined to admit that his father had been part of the group that came under attack. “As of now, I am putting our military on alert level five. Until we know more about the attack on Imatra and the ongoing attack on Latvala, I want our military ready to defend against any enemy. In a few hours, at daybreak, I intend to hold a conference with the media to announce the attacks to our citizens. Gather the councilmen and pass on this information.”
Elias departed the conference room as the advisors erupted into questions and chaos. He had said all he was prepared to say until he had more answers.
Halfway up the stairs to his improvised war room, Elias received another message, this one from Inari.
Two of my cousins have been taken hostage. The hostage takers are demanding Father relinquish contr
ol of Somero or my cousins will die.
Chapter 8
Elias entered his father’s private office with the phone to his ear, willing Inari to pick up and answer. A quick sweep of the room proved no one else was there. His mother, sisters, and brother were off doing various tasks and gathering what information they could.
The phone continued to ring.
Elias snatched up a few pins from the desk and approached the wall map.
Inari still wasn’t answering, and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad sign.
After he stuck a pin in Imatra, where he knew his father and others to have been, he ended the call to Inari. Without knowing where her cousins had been taken hostage, he had no idea where to mark the site of the attack. He snarled in disgust and tossed down the remaining pins.
Minutes later, he entered the strategy room with all its whiteboards and desks.
He found his mother making notes in a folder.
“Have you heard?” Elias asked.
Chey glanced up with a look of relief in her eyes. “Yes. Your father is on his way home. Thank God.”
“No, about Inari’s cousins being taken hostage,” he clarified.
Alarm crossed his mother’s face.
“What? I haven’t heard anything about it.”
“Inari texted me. I tried to call her back from Pop’s office, but I got no reply. She said the hostage takers have demanded that Thane relinquish control of Somero or the cousins will be executed.”
Chey stood up from her chair. “Elias, are we sure Kallaster is locked down tight? Has anyone contacted your cousins to put them on alert?”
“Kallaster is locked down,” Elias assured her. “But I don’t think anyone else has been alerted.”
There were several groups of cousins. The children of Mattias, Natalia, and Gunnar, as well as more distant cousins born of brothers to his grandfather. The latter group resided along the northern coastline of Latvala, perfect targets should the hostage takers decide to hit Latvala as well.
Latvala Royals: Darkest Hours Page 5
